There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

I got my very first Glossybox today. I have been waiting ever so impatiently for this box the last week. I had complained of it's absence so regularly, my husband was even starting to get disappointed the days it hadn't arrived yet. If you aren't familiar with Glossyboxes, let me give you a quick run down:

There is such a thing as a subscription sample service. You subscribe to receive boxes of samples on a somewhat regular basis. Glossybox is one of those, and it is sent on a monthly basis. I actually intended to sign up for Birchbox initially, but there was a waiting period to get an invitation for that service, so I jumped the gun and ordered Glossybox first. I actually got so impatient waiting for Glossybox, that when I finally received my invite for Birchbox, I ordered that, too. But that's another blog.

I've been tracking my package as much as you can track a package that is shipped USPS, and I knew it was potentially coming today. Once I got home from work, there it was, sitting in a snow mound under my mailbox. Annoying. I should get a bigger mailbox.

It took everything in me to let my dogs outside before opening my package and absorbing myself in it's contents, but I did the responsible thing and let them out. Then, I got out my digital camera and started opening.

The box, with the little Glossybox magazine that I actually haven't even opened yet, but I will be sure to do it before I finish this review:

The box exterior.  Each month's box has a theme.  This month's theme was "The Man Repeller".  I'm not exactly sure why you would want a box full of beauty products with a theme of repelling men, but perhaps it will explain in the magazine. Which I will get to...later:

The interior of the box.  So CUTE.  Pretty tissue paper and a little card tied in a ribbon with a note that says, "Hey friend!  Please enjoy this glossy box even though you are so damn pretty, you don't need the aid of my fav. products.  Kiss, Leandra (MR)"  An affirmation, I like it.  BTW, I am totally going to reuse this box because is incredibly darling:

The contents.  Are you ready?  Description of the items inside after the picture:

1.)  Mini tube (0.1 oz) of Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in Extreme Black.  Full size .27 oz = $25 to purchase. I didn't try this yet, as I am already wearing mascara, but I will definitely try it tomorrow.

2.) Mini tube (0.17 oz) of Fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum.  Full size 1oz = $35. I'm not sure I'll get much use out of this, as I have dry, sensitive skin, and I don't have a lot of oil issues. I will try it, however, and see how it goes.

3.) Foil packet sample of Le Metier De Beaute Replenishing Daily Solution.  Full size 1.17 oz = $225.  Do I even want to try this?  So expensive to buy!  I can see why this only came in a small foil packet. However, it may have been good advertising to get us subscribers hooked to it long enough that we couldn't live without it. Anyways, this product promises to protect, condition, hydrate, rejuvenate and detoxify skin, restoring a health suppleness.  I'm not sure one small foil packet is going to convince me to buy a $225 product, but I am excited to live in quasi luxury for at least one application.  

4.) Small perfume sample (0.03 oz) of Narciso Rodriguez for her.  Full size 1/6 oz = $77.  This smells really good.  I am usually turned off to most synthetic blend of perfumes, but I actually really love this one.  It is described as "A fragrant harmony of music, intimately refined with a floral facet developing gently and slowly, rounding out into the feminine warm tones of sun-kissed skin, dusted in soft, velvet-like sensuality."  I don't know if that's how I would describe it, but it does have a nice light musk/floral scent.  If I didn't have three full bottles of perfume already, I would probably buy this.  Although, it would definitely make a good summer scent, since it is so light.  I will have to keep it in mind.

5.) OPI full size 5 oz bottle of "Can't Let Go" Liquid Sand Nail Lacquer.  $9 to purchase.  This is a FULL sized nail polish in a velvety dark purple with glitter that dries into a glittery purple sand look.  I took pictures of this the best I could, but I guess I'm not really that good at taking pictures of myself or my fingernails. Especially when I only painted my thumb, to free up all of my other fingers so I could type this. I am so incredibly overloaded on nail polish, and nail polish fad items, that I honestly probably wouldn't buy this, because I rarely paint my nails anymore. However, it looks AWESOME, and I would highly recommend it to someone else looking for something cool and different to do with their nails.

6.) 1.7 oz pump bottle of Sebastian Professional Potion 9 styling cream.  Full size 5.1 oz = $19.  This is a styling cream that is supposed to help restore lost moisture and rejuvenate the healthy look of your hair. My husband is a hair stylist in a high-end salon with much more luxurious product than this, and I don't even use the free samples he has brought home. In fact, I don't even use styling products other than hairspray. So, I have no idea if I will ever use this. We shall see!

7.) Full size tube of tarte glamazon pure performance 12 hour lipstick in "fierce".  $26 to buy.  First of all, a FULL sized tube of lipstick that costs $26.  Now, THAT is awesome.  Second of all, I love tarte products.  I have never used their lipsticks, but this particular one is supposed to be vivid and long lasting.  It also has a "superb blend of emollient-rich butters (mango, avocado, and shea), so I guess that means it is moisturizing.  If that is true, I would be in heaven, as my lips are very dry and sensitive. It is supposed to last 12 hours and minimize the appearance of fine lines and leave your lips looking perfect and plumped up.  In the tube, the color looks...really orange.  I put it on my lips and it looks less orange, but still an orangey-red.  I tried taking pictures of it applied on my lips in different lighting to catch the orange hue, but I think it looks red in the pictures.  I gave up when I added one of my dogs to the photo taking extravaganza and started losing all focus by just trying to get her to look at the camera:

(Nico is unimpressed)

The lipstick is NOT that red in real life. I tried taking a picture with my digital camera in the bathroom since it is the only room in my house that isn't lit like a dungeon, but as I stated before, I suck at taking pictures of myself:

I don't know why I was holding the camera like that, don't ask. But at least you can kind of see that the lipstick is orangey.

So, the mini magazine does explain why the theme is "Man Repeller".  It is because the samples were the favorite products of a woman named Leandra Medine, a fashion blog writer.  Her fashion blog is named the Man Repeller.  I still don't think that was the best name for the box, but I understand the reasoning behind it.  Also in the magazine are beauty tips, blogger beauty product picks, editor product picks, interviews with various youtubers, makeup artists, bloggers, how-to guides, winter survival beauty guides, and more.  It was your basic high end product beauty magazine set up, but a nice addition to the box.  

My overall impression of Glossybox and this box is particular was really good. I had even seen what was coming in this box, and I was still shocked at how much you get for $20 (that is the cost per Glossybox).  I am very impressed and will definitely continue my service. I may even purchase some of these products!  Well done, Glossybox!